Bengaluru FC will welcome FC Goa to the Sree Kanteerava Stadium for the first leg of their semi-final clash in the Indian Super League (ISL) 2024-25 on Wednesday.
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Bengaluru FC vs FC Goa: Preview
The Blues have reached the semi-finals following a dominant 5-0 win over Mumbai City FC in the one-legged knockout, while FC Goa secured second place in the standings with 48 points from their 24 league matches.
FC Goa, however, is currently on a four-match unbeaten streak against Bengaluru FC, with two wins and two draws during this period. The last time they faced the Blues in the playoffs, they suffered a 0-1 defeat in the final of ISL 2018-19.
FC Goa have suffered defeats in their last two playoff matches in the ISL, both at the hands of Mumbai City FC in April 2024. The only time they experienced a longer losing streak in this stage of the competition was between March 2019 and February 2020, when they lost three consecutive games.
With 22 goals in ISL playoff history, FC Goa are tied with Bengaluru FC for the second-highest total, trailing only Chennaiyin FC (25). Additionally, FC Goa lead the semi-final scoring charts, having netted 18 goals in this stage of the competition.
FC Goa’s Iker Guarrotxena has scored seven goals and provided three assists in the current ISL season. He is just one goal contribution away from matching his best-ever tally in a single ISL season, which stands at 11 goal contributions (goals and assists combined) from the 2022-23 season.
Meanwhile, FC Goa’s Brison Fernandes, with 7 goals and 2 assists, is one goal contribution away from becoming the first Indian player to register 10 or more goal contributions for FC Goa in a single ISL season.
On the other hand, Bengaluru FC has an impressive home record against FC Goa, remaining unbeaten in their last six encounters, with four victories. The most recent two fixtures at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium ended in draws, and the Gaurs will be eager to break this trend. Only Kerala Blasters FC and NorthEast United FC have played more matches at this venue without winning (seven each).
Bengaluru FC are unbeaten in their last two playoff matches, with one win and one draw. The last time they managed a longer unbeaten streak in the playoffs was between March 2019 and 2020, when they won three consecutive games, each with a clean sheet.
Head coach Gerard Zaragoza marked his first-ever playoff victory in the ISL with a commanding 5-0 win over Mumbai City FC. If his team wins this upcoming fixture, he will become only the third coach in ISL history to win both of his first two playoff games, joining Simon Grayson (March 2023) and Petr Kratky (April 2024).
Bengaluru FC’s Sunil Chhetri, with four goals in this fixture, is just one strike away from becoming the outright leading scorer in ISL history for this matchup. Additionally, Chhetri is also one goal away from matching his highest goal tally in a single ISL season, which stands at 14 goals from the 2017-18 season.
Bengaluru FC vs FC Goa: Head-to-head
FC Goa and Bengaluru FC have squared off 17 times in ISL history. The Gaurs have secured five wins, while the Blues have come out on top in seven encounters. The remaining five matches have ended in draws.
- Total Matches – 19
- Bengaluru FC wins – 7
- FC Goa wins – 6
- Draws – 6
Bengaluru FC vs FC Goa: Team News and Predicted Lineup
Bengaluru FC – Team News
The Blues are expected to field a fully fit and available squad for the upcoming game.
Bengaluru FC – Predicted Lineup (4-3-3)
- Goalkeeper – Gurpreet Sandhu
- Defenders – Namgyal Bhutia, Rahul Bheke, Chinglensana, Roshan Singh
- Midfielders – Alberto Noguera, Pedro Capo, Suresh Wangjam
- Forwards – Ryan Williams, Edgar Mendez, Sunil Chhetri
FC Goa – Team News
The Gaurs could be without striker Iker Guarrotxena, who recently sustained a knee injury. His availability will be a game-time decision for the visitors.
FC Goa – Predicted Lineup (4-2-3-1)
- Goalkeeper – Hritik Tiwari
- Defenders – Seriton Fernandes, Odei Onaindia, Sandesh Jhingan, Aakash Sangwan
- Midfielders – Ajay Chhetri, Carl McHugh, Boris Singh,
- Forwards – ker Guarrotxena, Dejan Dražić, Armando Sadiku
Bengaluru FC vs FC Goa: Prediction
Bengaluru FC and FC Goa are set for an exciting semi-final clash in the ISL. Bengaluru FC enter the match with a strong home record and an unbeaten run in their last two playoff games. With Sunil Chhetri nearing a milestone and the team fully fit, they’ll be confident of extending their good form.
FC Goa, though, have shown resilience in past encounters and possess key players like Iker Guarrotxena and Brison Fernandes, who are capable of making a difference. However, the Gaurs might miss Guarrotxena due to injury, which could weaken their attacking threat.
Given Bengaluru FC’s solid form at home and FC Goa’s recent struggles in the playoffs, the Blues are likely to edge out the Gaurs in this encounter.
Prediction: Bengaluru FC 2-1 FC Goa
When and Where To Watch Bengaluru FC vs FC Goa LIVE? Broadcast and Streaming Details
The 2024-25 ISL Semi-final clash between Bengaluru FC and FC Goa is set to take place at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bangalore on Wednesday, April 2, 2025, with kickoff scheduled for 7:30 PM IST.
Fans can catch the action live on Sports 18, while streaming will be available on Jio Hotstar. International viewers can also tune in via the OneFootball app.
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FAQs
What is the upcoming playoff match between Bengaluru FC and FC Goa?
Bengaluru FC will host FC Goa in the first leg of their ISL 2024-25 semi-final at Sree Kanteerava Stadium on Wednesday.
How has Bengaluru FC performed in recent playoffs?
Bengaluru FC are unbeaten in their last two playoff matches, with one win and one draw.
What is FC Goa’s playoff record against Bengaluru FC?
FC Goa is on a four-match unbeaten run against Bengaluru FC, with two wins and two draws, but they lost 0-1 in the 2018-19 ISL final.
Who are the key players for FC Goa in this match?
Iker Guarrotxena and Brison Fernandes are key players for FC Goa, both having impressive goal contributions this season.
Is Sunil Chhetri close to breaking a record in the ISL?
Yes, Sunil Chhetri is just one goal away from becoming the all-time leading scorer in the Bengaluru FC vs FC Goa fixture.
